Heating system



1, 1936- w. T. FERGUSON in AL ,5

HEATING SYSTEM Filed July 30, 1935 60 1 INVENTORS llmn TIE/yu and fie/1hA, Bar/qI:

. ORNEY sometimes proceeding to certain radiators, somefore to bring thepressure in the system back to Patented Dec. 1, 1936 HEATING SYSTEMWarren T.'Ferguson, Waban, and Joseph A.

Parks, Jr., Milton, Mass, assignors, by mesne assignments, to AndersonProducts, Incorporated, a corporation of Massachusetts A plication July30, 1935, Serial No. 33,838

. Claims. (01. 237-9) 1 I This invention relates to one-pipe steamheatto the radiators, and secondly, we provide other ing systems,particularly those one-pipe systems means forinsuring the operation ofthe first I which operate in cycles under the control of a means on eachcycle of operation of the system. thermostat. One of the objects of thisinvention isf to provide means for controlling the distribu- *trlbutionof steam to the radiators is a venting tion of steam to the radiators oneach cycle of valve as shown in Fig. 3, although it is llbintefiloperation and to provide additional means for out that any other type ofadjustable venting insuring-the. operation'of 'the steam distributionvalve capable of maintaining a closed positioncontrolling mechanism.under negative pressures in the system could be One of the faultspresent in the so-called vacused equally well. uumheating system is therefusal of the steam to distribute itself properly under certainconditions and during certain heating cycles. If, for e I example, bycondensation of the steam, the negaing valve that will be more fullydescribed heretive pressurein the system has reached a point inafter.where the water will boil at a lowternperatur say 190degrees, theinauguration of the next cycle bythe operation of the thermostat underthe influence of falling room or outside temperature will promptly causethe generation of correspondingly low temperature steam. The advent ofthis steam however will not dissipate the negative pressure until asubstantial amount of steamhas beien created. As .a result the systemremains sealed, the vacuum valves continuing closed, and steam driftsabout aimlessly,

of a one pipe steam heatingsystem employing .our invention, There is a"boiler 2 havinga source of heat 4, as for example, an oil burner or agas burner capable 'of remote control by a thermostat 6. Leading fromthe boiler 2 is a steam main 8 from which the pipes, or risers ID, I!.and I4, extend upwardly tothe radiators Bl, R2, and R3 positioned invarious parts oi' the structure to be heated. On each radiator is anadjustable air venting times to Others. d p nd t some x nt onxva1veas'VLV2, and. v3, shown in detail in Fig. 3, ternal weatherconditions. In other words, when steam is formed while a negativepressure exists, control of distriliition is impossible. I, a One of theobjects of our invention is therevalves, capable of adjustment to varytheir ventthe radiators.

Positioned on steam main 8, usually at a point remote from the boiler 2,is the negative pressure or vacuum relief valve l 6 shown in detail inFig. 2. Thermostat 6, of usual construction, is positioned in somepart.of the building to be heated, usually in a location where it may beinfluenced by the radiatorsRl, R2, and R3. The wires and. 22 lead to therelay, 24, which, when actuated by other bj and accomplishments of thisthe closing of thermostat 6, closes the circuit 26, vention Wm moreclearly appear hereinafter as 28, which starts he fire in boiler 2 andalso'closes thedetails of our invention are moreparticularly theparallel t 32, leading to the relief set forth valve l6. v

In the drawing Fig. 2 shows the essential features of our vacu- .25 gagfi g fxgf g i gg z sgz g um relief valve I6. 34 is a threaded nipplewhich breaking relief valve for'use in our system is screwed into atapped hole. in the steam main 8. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of anadjustable air- Casing mount-ed on 9 5 has positioned venting vacuummaintaining valve suitable for tnereabove asolenoid 38 f Y the means usein our system. to operate valve 40. It W111 be noted that the Our systemis distinguished by two features. casing 35 i vided nto tWO P0 0 right-First, we provide means on the radiators themh nd portion through whichair and steam can selves for controlling the distribution of steam pass,and aleft-hand portion separated therefrom atmospheric at the start ofeach cycle, so that the steam distribution can be definitely controlledby our adjustable venting valves following their resetting to ventingposition upon the dissipation of the negative pressure in the system.

I A further object of our invention is to provide an improved method ofdistributing .steam in a one-pipe steam heating system.

and to be more fully described hereinafter. Thesef ing capacity, are forthe purpose of permitting the air to escape at pre-determined rates fromThe. means that we use for controlling the dis- 51o, The means that weuse to-insure the radiatorventing valves performingtheir function oneach cycleof operation.is,a relief' .or vacuum-breaka e is- Referringnow more particularly to'the draWJ- j ing; in Fig 1. is showna'schematic arrangement" by a partition 42, and containing'a switch 44,and bellowscontrolled operating means therefor.

Within the right-hand portion is a float 46 which prevents the escape ofwater-from the valve 5 I8 should the system inadvertently become fllled,

the float 46 rising and closing passageway 48.

Lead wire 30 is connected with one terminal of the solenoid 38. Leadwire 32 is connected with one terminal of switch 44. From the other ter-10 minal of switch 44 to the other terminal of solenoid 38 is theconductor 54. Switch 44 is normally closed so that the circuit throughconductors 30, 54, and 32 is continuous. I

Partof the, partition 42, dividing casing 38,- 15 consists of athermostatic unit 58 having a casing 58 which houses bellows 60. Thebellows is sealed to the casing at 62 so that the space therebetween isair-tight. Within this sealed portion is preferably a small amount of avolatile liquid such as 20 alcohol. Extending axially from the head ofthe bellows is a compression member 84, engaging 'ly, permitting thepassage of air through port I8,

passage I4, chamber 18, passage 48, and into the steam main 8 throughthe nipple 34.

Fig. 3 shows a radiator air venting valve suitable for use on theradiators in our system. The

35 valves, VI, V2, and V3, shown in Fig. 1 may be of this construction.The valve shown in Fig. 3 4

comprises a base 80, to which is secured a casing 82 by means of thelock nut 84. A nipple 88, Whichlmay be threaded into a tapped hole inthe .40 radiator, extends from tl'ie base, and loosely positionedtherein is a siphon tube 88 which assists in returning the condensate tothe radiator. Posiioned in the top of the shell 82 is a venting member90, having a passageway 92 therethrough,

45 and a valve seat 94. Mounted within the sealed base and shell is abellows 98 and a thermostatic float 98; the float having a valve pin Imounted adjacent the vent.- Both the bellows and float areadjustablymounted on the base by means of 50 the stem I02, which by virtue ofthreaded engage- ,ment with the base 80 may be rotated to move both thebellows 98 and float 98 vertically.

The supporting means for stem I02 comprises a sleeve I04 threadedinternally and externally 55 as shown. This sleeve is screwed into asuitably threaded hole in the base, as at I06, and threaded within thesleeve is the stem I02. Positioned on the upper end of sleeve I 04 isastop I 08 in the form of a split washer secured'in place by a cap 60 0.A groove H2 is formed in the stem I02, the

stop I08 being positioned therein. It is clear from this constructionthat the upward and downward movement of the stem I02 withrelation tosleeve I04 is definitely limited by the width of groove I I2 85 and thethickness of stop I 08. Suitable packing means I I4 and I I6 is providedat the lower part of stem I02 to prevent the escape of,steam or water.

The. bellows 96, closed at its. upper end, is

70 mounted on a base H8 which in turn is mounted on the stem I02, theupper end of thestem being of such length that it just grazes the end ofthe bellows at I20 when the latter is in normal position. The purpose ofthis stem extension 75 is to prevent collapse of the bellows beyond itsnormal length, which if permitted would change the venting rate of thevalve. An air passage I22 extends through the stem I02 allowing theatmosphere to reach the interior of the bellows 96.

Supported by the stem and bellows is the float 98 which is sealed, andusually has a small quantity of a volatile liquid contained therein. Thebottom I24 of the float is normally concave as shown, but when thetemperature of the float is raised by the presented steam, the bottomI24 is caused to snap downwardly to a convex position due to theexpansion of the fluids within the float. This elongation of float 98causes valve pin I00 to engage the valve seat 94, thereby closing thevalve.

The purpose and method of adjustment of stop I08 is as follows. With thestem I02 screwed upwardly as far as possible with relation to sleeveI04, that is, until the lower edge of groove 2 engages the under side ofstop I08, and with the float 98 in contracted position, sleeve I04 isrotated with relation to base 80 until the valve pin I00 seats on thevalve seat 94. Sleeve I04 isthen anchored so that no further rotationbetween it and base 80 is possible. Stem I02 is then screwed downwardlywithin sleeve I04 until the upper edge of groove II2 encounters theupper side of stop I08. In this position the valve is wide open and atfull venting capacity. However, the travel of stem I02 with relation tosleeve I 04 is made less than the downward travel of the bottom I24 ofthe float 98, as the bottom moves from concave to convex position; Thusit is assured that when the float 98 operates under the influence ofheat the orifice 92 will always be closed by the positioning of valvestem I00 against the valve seat. Limiting the upward movement of stemI02 so that valve pin I00 can move no farther than is necessary to closethe valve by contact with seat 94, eliminates the pos- 4o sibility ofdamage to the various parts by careless adjustment. By adjusting theposition of stem I02, which in turn varies the area of the openingbetween the end of valve pin I00 and the seat 94, the rate of escape ofair from the radiator through the valve may be controlled. The valvewill close however under any setting when the steam reaches the float98.

The operation of our system is as follows. When the temperature at thethermostat 8 has fallen to a pre-determined point, the cycle starts asthe thermostat operates-to close the circuit 20, 22, actuating the relay24, thereby closing the circuit 26, 28 to the boiler 2, and the circuit30, 32 to valve I8. Closing the circuit to the boiler starts a flretherein, this being accomventing valves VI, V2 and V3 attached thereto.

Under these conditions, and in the absence of heat, the venting valveswill be in normal open position.

Thereafter, steam is generated in the boiler 2 and advances along thesteam main 8 to the risers I0, I2, and I4, and the relief valve I8,which is usually positioned on the steam main at a. point remote fromthe boiler. Under the influence of the advancing steam, the air in thesystem will the venting valves VI, V2, and V3.

,aoeasee be driven out through the relief valve I6 and Since the ventingcapacity of relief valve I6 is very much greater than that of theventing valves on the radiators, steam will fill the main'8 relativelyquickly. When steam reaches valve I6 it comes, in contact with thethermostatic unit 56. As

the steam engages the casing 58, the fluid within the thermostatic unit56 expands, compressing the bellows 60 and driving the compression mem-'ber 64, which is mounted on the movable head in separate circuits, ifdesired. Thus the boiler continues to generate steam to be supplied tothe radiators in accordance with the venting rates of the valves VI, V2,and V3 which have been adjusted to give the desired distribution. Thatis to say, by varying the setting of valve pin I with relation 'to valveseat 94, by rotation of .the stem I02, the rate of escape of air fromthe radiators can be controlled. In this way the time of arrival ofsteam'to the several radiators can be adjusted as desired. Thus, theamount of heat distributed to the various parts of the space tobe'heated, prior to cutting off the steam supply at the end of thecycle, is under full control.

Whenthe steam reaches the valves VI, V2, and V3, the fluid within thethermostatic float 98 exp'a'nds to drive:the bottom I24 downwardly to aconvex-position, thereby forcing valve pin I00 against valve seat'94toclose the vent 92, preventing 'further escape of the steam. When theunder the boiler.

temperature of the building has been raised to a predetermined point,thermostat 6 operates to break the circuit 26, 22, thereby breaking thecircuit 26, 28 to the boiler 2 to shut oil the fire With the eliminationof the supply of steam, the radiatorsbegin to cool, resulting incondensation of-the steam in the system, whereby a negative pressure isdeveloped. When the falling temperature reaches a certain point, the

'pressurewithin the thermostatic float 98 will be sumcientlyreduced topermit bottom I24 to 'resume itsoriginal concave position. Ordinarily,

this would result in the re-opening of the vent 92. However, by means ofour bellows 96. which at once expands, due to the fact that theatmospheri'c pressurewithin the bellows exceeds the negative pressurewithin the' valve casing, developed by the collapse of the steam, valvepin IIIII continues to be held against valve seat 94, therebymaintaining vent 92 in a closed position.

From the construction of venting valves VI, V2, and V3 it is clear thatthey will remain closed as long as a negative pressure exists in thesystem, and the only way they may be re-opened to the opening of valve40 through the operation of solenoid 38. It should be pointed out herethat switch 44, which had previously been opened through the operationof thermostatic unit 56, closes when the thermostatic unit 56 respondsto a decrease in temperature resulting from the dissipation of heat. lThe opening of valve 46 of relief valve I6, permits the pressure withinthe system to return to atmospheric, causing the collapse of bellows 96in the venting valves VI, V2 and V3, and the re-opening of vents 92. Inthis way, all of the venting valves VI, V2 and V3 are reset to normalventing position, whereby the correct distribution of steam maybe had onthe coming cycle, which is thereafter repeated.

In the event that the thermostat 6 is actuated to shut off the supply ofsteam by only partially filling the radiators RI, R2, and R3 with steambefore the thermostatic floats 98 have operated to close the ventingvalve VI, V2 and V3 it will make no difierence in'the effectiveness ofour system for the following reason. As has been ,previously pointedout, the bellows 96 expands to close passage 92 if the pressure withinthe valve casing is less than-atmospheric. Even though the radiators maybe only partially filled with steam, whenthe steam generation stops, theresulting condensation takes place so rapidiy that a negative pressuredevelops within the system even though some air is going back into theradiators through the open ports 92. The pressure differential that iscreated issufllcient to cause bellows96 to elongate to close ports 92 tothereby completely seal the system and to put the system in the samecondition it would have been in had steam reached the thermostaticfloats 9.8 to close the ports 92 prior to actuation of thermostat 6. Y

It should be pointed out that the mode of operation may bemodifiedsomewhat by varying the strength of the spring III in the reliefvalve I6 to permit valve 40' to open automatically when the negativepressure in the system exceeds any predetermined point, In this way thenegative pressure-can be definitely limited if it is so desired. -Bycontrolling the maximum negative pressure, the time between heatingcycles can be controlled to a certain extent.

As previously indicated, we believe we 'are the first to incorporate, ina one-pipe steam heating system, air vents on radiators which can be setto vent at difierent rates in order to provide controlled distributionof steam to the radiators and at the same time to provide in the systema vacuum or negative pressure relief valve so arranged and constructedas to operate at the beginning of each cycle to recharge the system withair at atmospheric pressure so that the adjustable vents on theradiators may be brought into play to deliver their full efllciency onevery cycle of operation. We have set forth in detail a preferred meansof carrying out our invention, but we wish it distinctly understood thatother means capable of the same functions could be used.

' a plurality of radiators, pipes for conducting the steam to saidradiators, vents on the radiators permitting the steam to reach saidradiators at pro-determined times, and means for opening said system tothe atmosphere, said means comprising a valve opened by actuation of athermosat under the influence of falling temperature in the space to beheated and closed by the actuation of a second thermostat within saidsystem under the influence of steam generated after said valve isopened. r

2. In a steam heating system for heating enclosed spaces, operating incycles, in combination, a source of steam, radiators having air ventsthereon, pipes connecting said source of steam. and radiators, and avalve associated therewith, means for setting said source of steam inoperation, means to simultaneously open said valve, thereby admittingatmospheric pressure to said system, pressure operated means for openingsaid air vents when the pressure 'in the system is substantiallyatmospheric, thermostatically controlled means for closing said valveand other thermostatic means to close said air vents to seal said systemafter the generation of steam, means for stopping the generation ofsteam at a predetermined rising space temperature, and means forthereafter maintaining said valve means and said air vents in closedposition when the pressure within the system is less than atmosphericand the space temperature is above a pre-deter:

mined point.

3. A heating system for enclosed spaces, comprising radiators with ventsthereon, said vents normally open under atmospheric pressure in thesystem, means for closing said vents when the pressure within saidradiators is less than atmospheric, and a valve operable at apredetermined falling space temperature to open said system to theatmosphere. thereby reopening said vents.

4. In a steam heating system for heating enclosed spaces and operatingin cycles, in combination, means for supplying steam inigarmittently, aplurality of radiators, means for conducting said steam from said supplymeans to said radiators, means for maintaining a negative pres- 1 surein said system when said-steam is not being supplied, valve meansoperative thereafter at a predetermined falling space temperature forrestoring the pressure in said system to atmospheric pressure prior tosupplying steam to the radiators on the next cycle, and means forthereafter closing said valve before said steam supply is discontinued.5. In a steam heating system for heating enclosed spaces, a vacuumrelief valve connecting said system with the atmosphere, a thermostat inone of said spaces actuated by a falling space temperature to actuatemeans to open said valve and a second thermostat within said systemactuated by steam generated thereafter to close said valve.

6. In a steam heating system for heating enclosed spaces and operatingin cycles, in comblnation, a steam source, radiators with air vents,

pipes therebetween, and a valve mountedthereon, means controlled by thefalling temperature of one of said spaces to actuate said steam sourceto start a cycle and to positively open said valve thereby admittingatmospheric pressure to said system prior to delivery of steam to saidradiators, means operative thereafter to close said valve, andthermostatic means to close said air vents, means controlled by therising temperature of one of said spaces to discontinue said steamsupply, and means for maintaining said system sealed against a negativepressure of anydegree created in said system by condensation of saidsteam as long assaid space temperature remains above a predeterminedpoint.

7. A method of heating by steam in which each cycle comprises thefollowing steps, setting a source of steam in operation, transmittingsteam to radiators and at the same time driving airv from said radiatorsto the atmosphere, then sealing the entire system, said sealing to becom-, pletedbefore or about the time the supply of steam isdiscontinued, discontinuing the supply of steam, then allowing the steamto condense to fcreate a negative pressure in the system, then openingthe system to the atmosphere while,

simultaneously setting the source of steam in,

operation to commence the next cycle.

8. In a steam heating system for heating enclosed spaces, incombination, automatic means for supplying steam intermittently, a?plurality of radiators,pipes for conducting the steam to said radiators,vents on the radiators permitting the steam to reachsaid radiators atpredeterthe .atmosphere, means for opening said valve at .the same timesaid source of steam is set in operation, and means for closing saidvalve before the steam is discontinued. 10. A;method of heating bysteamin which each cycle comprises the following steps, setting a sourceof steam in operation, filling radiators with steam, sealing the system,discontinuing the supply of steam, then allowing the steam to condenseto create a negative pressure, then restoring the pressure in saidsystem to atmospheric immediately after setting said source of steam inoperation.

WARREN 'r. FERGUSON.

JOSEPH A. PARKS, JR.

vacuum relief valve connecting said system with 'inined'times, and meansfor opening said sys- 3

